'Sunday Best': Tina Campbell and company seek new gospel stars

To the casual observer, "Sunday Best," the BET competitive reality series that begins its third season on Sunday, April 4, is simply "American Idol" for aspiring gospel artists.

Nothing could be further from the truth, however, says Tina Campbell, half of the gospel duo Mary Mary and both a judge and executive producer on the show.

"The thing that separates us from any other kind of music is the spiritual element of it," she explains. "We're looking for someone who can present the message of gospel music with excellence vocally, but most importantly, they have to embody that lifestyle. It's something we have to see and experience and feel from you that says, 'I live this, and I love this message that I sing about, and that's what's going to make me effective.'

"If I were on some other show, I'd just be looking for a singer with the 'It Factor.' It wouldn't have to be honest. It could be contrived, but if it looked good and marketable, as an executive, I would say, 'Let's go with it.' With this (show), if the truth about what you sing doesn't shine through every time you open your mouth, you could never be chosen as a winner for me."

Several changes are in the offing for the new season, some of them due to the maternity leave of Campbell's sister and performing partner, Erica, who will appear only in the first episodes. Kim Burrell fills in as a judge during an episode filmed in Philadelphia, then Yolanda Adams joins the judging panel for the studio shows. Singer and pastor Donnie McClurkin rounds out the panel, replacing BeBe Winans from seasons one and two. Kirk Franklin returns as host.

"There's definitely new energy with new people and new personalities," Campbell says. "I think the people are definitely going to miss Erica, because her signature sweetness and compassion and corrective criticism delivered with love are things that I just don't think any other gospel artist can match. But Kim Burrell is the funniest person in the world, and Yolanda Adams is a very accomplished performer, so she really brings something to the table. And Erica will be back next season.

"I miss BeBe dearly, and a lot of times when you have one personality that you are used to, people expect the next person to come in and be a mirror of that, but Donnie McClurkin is his own person. He brings a spiritual element as a pastor that I think is definitely going to be beneficial to the season. He is so hard on his background singers and has the most excellent group of people, so he will definitely bring great critiques. You feel like you are dealing with a vocal trainer sometimes, and sometimes like you're dealing with a pastor, and then other times he's just downright funny."

Funny or not, McClurkin takes gospel music very seriously, and he agrees with Campbell that raw vocal talent will only get you so far in that particular genre.

"What we are doing here is making sure the performers understand that there is a mixture of talent, but it has to be blended with spirituality that cannot be feigned or contrived," he says. "This is getting into the real lifestyle and belief factor of people, which gives them the reason to sing. We tell them in the auditions, 'Don't just try to mesmerize us with your gift. Let's hear your life; let's hear what you believe.' "

As in previous seasons, the studio episodes will open with 20 semifinalists selected from regional auditions, this time in Detroit, Philadelphia, New Orleans and even Nigeria. The judges will winnow those performers down to a final pair, at which point viewers will pick the ultimate winner, who receives a recording contract and a new car. The winner also gets some valuable mentoring, Campbell notes.

"Some of them don't know how to read a contract or how important it is to have proper representation," she says. "I want them to have what they need to go out and be successful both spiritually and naturally."